142 ALAMO MUCHO TO 
independent of what he might have undergone from 
the wound. 
“Not many feet distant,” continues Dr. Webb, 
‘“we saw the dead body of Sergeant Bale’s horse, 
which had been perforated by a musket ball. The 
sergeant was nowhere to be found. I became satisfied 
that he had left the ground, probably without being 
mortally wounded. He had evidently, previous to his 
departure, taken his own blanket from the saddle, and 
with it covered the remains of the Colonel; for men 
who would brutally murder a fellow being, it was not 
for a moment to be presumed would have the slightest 
regard for the appearance or protection of the mutilated 
relics. The corpse I caused to be carefully rolled up 
and placed in the ambulance; and at three o’clock ip 
the morning we mournfully commenced our return 
march. 
‘‘ After proceeding about ten miles on our Way 
back, we noticed ahead of us a man reclining by the 
road side; and on reaching him, much to my satisfac- 
tion, he proved to be the missing sergeant. 
‘When he joined the Colonel, he was told the pur } 
pose for which he was summoned; and upon some 
inquiry being addressed to him, he stated that whilst 
_Teady to obey orders, from his knowledge of the 
desperate character of the deserters, he was confident 
they would not be taken without bloodshed. How- 
ever, as already observed, the Colonel’s feelings of 
kindness outweighed all apprehensions of danger, if he 
entertained any, and overbalanced all regard for self- 
protection. Having completely disarmed himself, and 
lessened his security still further by sending his 
